Going Back to the Birthplace of LOMO LC-A

Ever since I got my first LC-A+, I started to get curious and wanted to know about the camera and its origin. A rare chance came along to travel to Russia in June 2011 and I immediately jumped on it. Thus, my journey to the birthplace of LOMO LC-A begins!

If you read the book that came with your Lomo LC-A+ or LC-Wide. The LOMOPLC, an optical factory based in St Petersburg. It mass-produced the LOMO LC-A cameras of the Soviet Union in 1914. It discontinued the production in 2005. Luckily, it was brought to life in the form of the LC-A+ by the good people of Lomography Society International.

Going to Russia was a dream came true, yes it sounded corny but when it happened, the FIRST thing on my mind was not the Red Square but the Lomo Factory, the mysterious place where all the first Lomo magic was cast and made.

Before that, I did some research, asked a few lomographers (thanks to neja and life_on_mars), and printed the Google Map. When I was finally in Saint Petersburg, Russia, I was lucky to encounter a very helpful Russian who directed me to the right way. (some basic Russian phrases goes a long way).

And here I was standing in front of the huge iconic factory building! I tried to enter the building and have a look inside but was stopped by the staff. I ask her if I can take pictures but was turned down so I walked around the perimeter of the building.

And I saw the LOMO emblem metal plate!

The factory is a showcase of the former Soviet Union architecture and I can’t help but took lots of pictures: digital, lomo, polaroid, iPhone you name it!

To get there: Take the Metro to “Viborgskaya” and use the underground passage to walk towards “Chugunnaya Street” direction. Once at the exit, turn right and walk for 10 minutes until you see the iconic building.

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